The other day I chanced upon this Guava Paste at the Dollar Store. I’ve never encountered it before but I’m always up for trying new things and for $1, why not? After getting home, I researched it and found it’s used a lot in Cuban and Puerto Rican desserts, often in a puff pastry with cream cheese. I heartily embrace all things puff pastry and so created this combination with what I had in the kitchen. They came out amazing and I am super happy to share them with you. It’s not often ingredients come together so easily!
These pastries are stuffed with the guava paste, bananas and walnuts that have been soaked in orange juice. The tropical flavors encased in a flaky pastry pocket are a perfect combination, great for a weekend brunch or special occasion. They are really simple to make too; the hardest part is probably finding the guava paste but I think if you look in the Hispanic section of your market, or have a Dollar Tree nearby, you’ll have no trouble at all.
Guava paste, if you’ve never tried it, is really yummy. It tastes like a sweet berry jam and it’s consistency is thick and slice-able.
Guava & Banana Pastries
(makes 6)
Ingredients:
- 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed according to package directions
- 8 oz guava paste, cut into 6 even pieces
- 1 banana, sliced
- 1/2 cup walnuts
- 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
- 1 tablespoon orange juice
- 1 tablespoon aquafaba (chickpea brine) to brush pastries
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- Preheat oven to 425F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Combine the walnuts, orange zest, and orange juice and let sit for 10 minutes.
- Roll out the dough and carefully cut it into 6 equal squares. (see pics below)
- Place a slice of guava a little off center in each square. Top with a couple slices of banana. Divide the walnuts equally between the 6 squares.
- Carefully fold over the pastry to make triangles (or you could also make rectangles) and using a fork, seal the edges together firmly.
- Brush the tops of each triangle with the aquafaba and then sprinkle the sugar over each one.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown and flaky.
- Let cool and enjoy :-).
I had guava paste in my pantry for years and eventually threw it out because I didn’t know what to do with it! Wish I had it as these look amazing…will have to check my local dollar store! Ha! What a great find you had!
HOLD THE PHONE! I have quince paste. Do you think that would work instead??
I just had to go look up quince paste haha! It looks very similar to the guava paste and I would totally try it if I had some. Only one way to find out, right?! Would love to hear if you try it – I imagine it would be similar to apple flavor and with the walnuts that would be yummy.
The guava paste was something I’d never seen before – love discovering new foods! And now I’m going to keep my eyes open for some quince paste too :-).
I’ve always wanted to try Guava jellies and paste!!
I’d never had it before, in fact had never seen it before so it was a whole new experience. It’s quite sweet in paste form like that and I would definitely not have it on it’s own. It’d be like eating strawberry jam straight from the jar. But combined with something fatty, like a puff pastry and the walnuts, it was amazing. I love new foodie finds and for $1 it was entirely irresistible! You should absolutely get some if you see it, I think you’d like it a lot. :-). Plus, I’d love to see what you create with it!
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